Photo by grand grrl
As a follow-up to Tara’s The Power of Coupons article, I’d like to share a few tips that helped me reduce my weekly grocery bill for our family of five from $167.50/week to $89/week in two-months, without giving up my sanity, red meat, pricey dairy products, or daily produce.
Have you ever thought the following?
- I don’t have time or patience to clip and organized coupons,
- I can never save enough money to make it worth my while,
- I’m too brand-loyal to even find value from coupons,
- My family eats too much red meats, dairy, and fresh produce; coupons will never make a dent in my grocery bill,
- My goal is not to have a $40 grocery bill–but, saving $40 from my grocery bill would be great,
- My family is not willing to eat frozen or canned fruits or vegetables just because I have a coupon for them,
- Store-hopping is not worth the gas in my tank,
- Searching circulars is too much work,
- Organizing a whole week’s menu is mind-boggling,
- I despise getting newspaper ink on my hands (no, really…),
- Ugh…all this coupon lingo is so confusing, and
- Since I save enough money with my frugal family-fun day trips, homeschooling educational goodies, etc. I’ll just attribute my high grocery bill to paying for convenience…or laziness
If you felt any of these concerns above, don’t worry…I felt every single one of them. So, if I can be such a Confused Coupon Criticizer, and still cut my grocery bill in half in 2-months, you can too!
Tips to cutting your grocery bill in half in less than 2 months:
- Involve your kids. Make coupon finding, circular reviewing, and grocery shopping a frugal family fun activity. If it wasn’t for my girls to keep me motivated, I would have given up long ago. With every “Mama, I saved $1!” surprised cheer, I was committed to coupon and circular shopping, for the joy first, and then the savings.
- Turn boring, cranky errands with kids into a fun family field trips. People are amazed how much fun my three girls and I have as we travel the grocery aisle. Many comment how it’s a pleasure to see little astute shoppers, instead of whining, crying, bored kids dragging behind the cart. Since we’re homeschoolers, we’re always talking about math too.
- Stop Clipping Coupons; Organize Them! I use a 3-ring file-pocket and filler-paper binder. While big and clunky, it has everything in its right place. The front side has circulars filed by week, with special fles for “store-specific coupons” (drug-store specific coupons) and “outings” (restaurants, events/field trips). I use filler paper to write out my weekly menu, which for me only lists the meat I’m going to cook for dinner each night. Also, I list “deals” at different stores. I use binder sleeves to put the receipts in for the week, and have baseball-card sleeves to organize rebates or special little coupons with no particular place to go.
- Learn the lingo right from the start. It only takes minutes to review all of Tara’s “Learning the lingo” article.
- Think Strategic Shopper, not Cheap Couponer. CouponMom.com found that 47% of women who use coupons are educated, affluent women who choose to use coupons, not necessarily out of necessity but for the savings.
- Let the Pros “tell” you what to do. Time is money, so stop wasting it. I follow the blog posts of Deal Seeking Mom and the forums of Coupon Mom. When I first got started, I was following nearly a dozen blogs, which left me confused and overwhelmed. Now that I know both website’s posting schedule, I’m a loyal follower to only these two frugal and savvy moms.
- Survey your starting point, then set a realistic goal. My husband and I use Quicken Online for free. [Con: It saves data for just over a year; so, we’re looking around for another program. Any tips?]
- We tracked my grocery bill for 6-months and averaged $167.50/week.
- Realistic goal: Save 25% in Month-1, then 50% by Month-3.
- Track your spending. I have a tiny notebook in my purse that I write all my purchases for the day then submit to Quicken Online at night. [I’m thinking of getting a Blackberry, so I can submit purchases virtually on the spot].
- Don’t drive around to save pennies; fit detours for dollars. I keep my coupon binder in my car, so if I happen to drive by one of the stores with special “deals”, I make a quick detour.
- Shop at discount stores, such as Price Rite, Save-a-lot and ALDI’s. I found that Price Rite has the most name brands and best prices, and they carry halal meats (Islamic-permissible foods, like Kosher for Jewish people). Save-a-lot has an email list with $5/off sign-up coupons; and they always have the cheapest bananas in town. ALDI often has good deals beyond grocery shopping that are worth making the additional trip.
- Only use cash. If you can, cash forces you to stay within your budget and stretch the bill further, rather than resorting to a debit or credit card’s unseen dollars & cents. [It leads to a debt-free life too].
- Be patient, persevere, and work on one goal at a time. The success of saving with the non-coupon-clipping, circular-organizing system; is that with every new week you add dozens of more coupons into your personal database. Therefore, you potentially save more money each and every week. Now, that I reached my grocery-bill goal one month early, I’m starting to get into the drug-store coupon/circular shopping strategies, Old Navy Weekly (no luck yet), and other fun savings.
- Find a network and stick with these smart & fun chicks! I love Deal Seeking Mom’s community. Tara & her guest bloggers’ posts are always easy to read and understand and are extremely welcoming and encouraging for any Frugal Newbie, such as myself.
What type of couponer are you? Is your goal to get as many groceries as you can for the least amount of money or just to save on your grocery bill?
Ponn M. Sabra, MPH is a homeschool mom of three girls living with a rare brain disorder and best-selling author of “Empowering Women to Power Network.” Ponn blogs at https://www.EmpowerWomenNow.com and https://AmericanMuslimMom.com, the first and only online magazine that offers free tips, tools, reviews, contests and resources for Muslim Moms living in America [Non-Muslims are welcomed too!].
Jennifer
Thank you for you tips! I’m new to couponing. But I’m trying my best. I saved $12 today which has been my biggest savings so far. I know I will get there!! I follow Deal Seeking Mom. She seems to be the easiest to understand and gets all the info out there quickly.
Thanks Again!!
Katie
I have a couple of questions for the pros:
1. Can you use an internet coupon and coupon from the paper on the same item?
2. Can you use two coupons for the same product if they are for different amounts off ( ex. $.55 cents off one and $1.00 off two?)
3. Can you use two coupons if one is generic and one specifies. (ex. $.55 off spicy chex mix and $.50 and flavor chex)
Also, I know Publix will accept competitors coupons. Anyone know of anyone else that takes them?
Thanks!!
Brenda
Thanks, Ponn, for your excellent post! I have had very similar results in just a few months of strategic shopping – avg. $150 per week now down to avg. $80 per week. I am not into extreme stock-piling – But if I manage to get extras of the things my family uses at a cheap price, so much the better and I do have an “over-flow” shelf going. With the money I am saving on boxed and frozen items, cleaning and household supplies, Health & Beauty items, I am actually able to buy more fresh meat, dairy and produce for my family and still save 40%-50% from my pre-couponing days. I love the tip about using filler paper in your binder for your menu planning, also “Detours for Dollars” is going to be my new catch phrase!
Daphne
Ponn,
I use Mint.com for my family’s budgeting (I think it was just acquired by Quicken). It has had a few bugs but overall, I really like it. They have just added some neat features. It definitely saves more than a year of data.
Stephanie
Ponn, I wanted to mention two things. First, I wanted to reccomend Mint.com – I see I’m not the first to do so! The only thing I miss from Quicken is the ability to import into Excel to make my own different graphs.
Second, I wanted to mention that I was happy to see you mention shopping for halal meats. Although my family is Christian, we have several Muslim friends, and we keep a halal chicken in the freezer for impromptu get-togethers. Around here, we have a great halal butcher and Middle Eastern import store. No, it’s not as cheap as what you’ll find at the grocery, but it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than buying on the internet! As an added bonus, halal and kosher meats are often organic, too, even if they’re not explicitly marketed that way! Anyway, I’m glad to see someone mentioning how to save money on “specialty” groceries, too!
nida
great summary! im pretty experienced by now, but this is an AWESOME article to pass on to anxious newbies…
I agree on the halal meat thing, i do eat halal but its also usually organic and clean meat, without crude proteins found in things such as hot dogs.
KATIE:
1) no
2) no
3) no
you can only use two coupons on the SAME item if a store allows it and you are using one MANUFACTURER coupon and one STORE coupon.
btw, harris teeter takes competitors coupons for $x/xx purchases i.e. $5/25
Bri Clark
I like to save money, be organized and be frugal. I find that as I have these directives in mind I enjoy rather than despise couponing. I tell my kids I am a superhero and my villain is “the man”. My super powers are coupons and sales. LOL they think I’m crazy but it works.
Serendipity is Sweet
Great article. I need some inspiration. Right now my coupon use is sporadic and disorganized. My biggest obstacle…three young kids who are ALWAYS with me who HATE grocery shopping.
Thanks for the tips!
Ponn Sabra
@Jennifer – Great start! Do *not* give up. Every dollar counts, so keep the good attitude and yes, Deal Seeking Mom community rocks with their uber-fast updates!
And, it’s my pleasure to help motivate others. So, you’re welcome ;-)
@ Katie
I’ll try my best to answer what I know.
1. Yes
2. It works sometimes: Once it worked at a grocery store because I think the cashier was frustrated because I gave her so many coupons that when a few did not go through for whatever reason, she hand-coded the deductions herself. Another time I tried at a drug store and they said, “you can’t use 2 for the same thing”. I just try and don’t mind either way…but, if it’s in your favor, yay ;-)
3. Hmm…I don’t know, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
4. I know our Shop Rite does, but it’s a family-independently-owned one, so I’m not exactly sure.
Hoped I helped some…
@Brenda. That’s great news! Fortunately, I have a very cozy farmhouse, so we do not have any room for stockpiling or overstock. It forces me to conserve space, time and money though. For example, I literally use every inch of our freezers, by cutting bulk meats and bagging them into perfectly-fitted lego-type-shaped frozen foods packages.
Hah! Yeah, I will not Pitch for Pennies, but definitely “Detour for Dollars”. However, I do save pennies or share in the penny buckets ;-)
@Daphne Thanks. We looked into it last month when someone recommended Mint.com Hubby is our tech-guy and he said it’s basically the same. Also, we tried to find a program that will import our Quicken stuff, and I believe Mint.com does not have that capability; but I’m not for sure.
@Stephanie Yay, we’re going to stick with Quicken.
Hah! Regarding halal and specialty foods, I have some cool tips to share on that topic that I figured out more during our fasting month of Ramadan (last month). Thanks for giving me the motivation for my next article ;-)
Thanks for answering Katie’s questions, have you ever tried like me?
@Bri Clark – That’s hysterical! Whatever gets the kids involved and enjoying themselves is key!
Marcy
I’ve only been couponing for 2 mos. and I’ve already saved over $2,000. It’s fun.
Ponn Sabra
@Marcy $2000 Yowser! Please share some additional tips…eager minds want to know!
niki
Great post, as usual! Funny, too, because I have a similar post sitting in my draft box…
I’ve nominated you for a blog award—keep up the good work!
Great post, as usual!
I’ve nominated you for a blog award—keep up the good work!
https://free2befrugal.blogspot.com/2009/10/one-lovely-blog-and-15-more.html
:)
Ponn Sabra
@Serendipity is Sweet
Sorry I missed your comment earlier.
My girls have always loved grocery shopping; so much that they now fight to come. So hubby and I rotate, “who came with me last time?”
My #1 tip is: Involvement. Give them all a job & a “learning” duty.
For example, depending on ages, have one read & compare cereals to pick. Very young? Have one pick out colors, letters, numbers. Count the 10 pastas for $10. etc.
Yes, it takes more time to shop, but it is much fun for everyone–and less painful for your head and body.
I learned very early, that it’s better to spend more time having fun and learning; rather than speeding through hoping that your headache and bodyaches of calming the cranky kids will end after the rushed shopping spree. As I’m sure you know that once a kid is cranky at the store…it makes bringing in the groceries, putting them away and then cooking the food even more miserable.
Teach your kids to love the “food process”…it is *not* just enjoying a great home-cooked meal pleasantly placed on the dining table–it all starts at the grocery store!
Hoped I helped a little, as you helped a lot by giving me ideas to expand my tips for another post ;-)
Ponn Sabra
@Niki Thanks. Please post your article and link back (via comments or linking to this article) so we can also learn from your added tips!
DSM does rock–worthy of your nomination. Congrats on your nomination too ;-)
claddaghmom
I started clipping coupons a couple months ago, when a family member was laid off. It made me think about my little family and how we could really improve our spending. Couponing has helped changed our habits:
1. We have an emergency savings account.
2. We are on a cash-only system.
3. We talk to each other about purchases/needs before taking action.
4. Instead of barely getting by, we can donate and share with others.
Couponing has helped psychologically, too. Instead of feeling that we are going ‘without’ or sacrificing, I’m able to get little samples and yummy treats for free.
We went from going without to stay in a $50 a week budget, to splurging and still staying within budget. I used to make choices at the grocery store…what do I leave on the shelf? What do we stretch until next week? Now I am hitting $100+ before coupons and dropping in to the $40s and $30s.
I have a Zbinder and keep on average 500-600 coupons in that book at any given time. Sometimes it’s a pain to keep organized, but I make sure to fit it into my day instead of fitting my day around couponing.
Ponn Sabra
@claddaghmom Success definitely came more easily for me this time around, simply because I changed my family’s attitude towards our finances…Okay, changing mostly mine ;-)
I’m so glad everything is working out for your family, especially during rough times. Being able to give in charity when you thought you barely had enough yourself is a wonderful blessing!
I just checked out what a Zbinder is…I love the handle. I have something similar, but it’s more a binder and folder–without a handle makes it such a pain to truck in and out of the house.
Donnainohio
Hi Ponn, Thank you for your great article but i have one request though, do you mind uploading a picture of your coupon binder? im trying to get ideas how to organize my coupons. Thanks alot.
Marcy
Well, for example, my kmart doesn’t limit the coupons in a transaction so I’ll go to kmart (when they double) and bring a $300 transaction down to only a few cents. I have never been stocked up on so many things- cleaning products, toilet paper, tampons, cat food, Etc. Every time I go into a store I walk out saving like 30 dollars and spending cents oop. It’s very easy to do.
laurie
Personally, I don’t keep track of how much I’ve “saved” on shopping trips b/c those numbers are very slanted. ex. I didn’t buy $4/box tampons before I started couponing, but now I will since I can get them for $1. I used to spend $2.50/box on the kind I bought before couponing, so I’m not really “saving” $3 but rather $1.50. Or if you’re buying things you never would have bought before (Glade products anyone?) just because they’re free, I mean, should that really count toward your “amount saved.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the free items here, as well as big savings, but I’m just pointing out the numbers get slanted sometimes. Unless you’re just trying to sway friends who don’t coupon, those “how much I saved” numbers seem a bit useless to me. The truth lies in the total out of pocket.
@Katie, Nida is right. No, no, and no. Attempting to use 2 manufacturer coupons on the same item is attempting coupon fraud. Manufacturers don’t reimburse businesses for improperly used coupons and that means the business takes a loss which means they don’t like couponers and are less likely to be kind to us, or to put out future deals/sales/coupons. In some instances, the cashiers who “push through” a bad coupon are put into corrective action or even fired. Let’s show some accountability and integrity here– know the rules, and play by them– don’t throw the cashiers under the bus for heaven’s sake! It’s your responsibility to know what you’re doing with coupons before you just “try it” as Ponn Sabra suggests. Please correct me if I’m wrong or out of line, Tara.
@Katie- There are some circumstances I can think of where it seems like you’re using 2 coupons on the same item but you’re really not (these are viable combinations):
1. a “BOGO” coupon with a “$x off 1” b/c the BOGO is for the free item and the $ off is for the other item.
2. a manufacturer coupon (like a catalina) that’s for ex. “$5 off your next order” in addition to all your other manufacturer coupons
Chasidy
I’m glad to see someone posted about the ethics of trying to sneak in 2 Manufactures coupon for the same item. Honestly if you make it a practice to do things like that you make it hard for those of us that use them like they are meant to be used! Really…. you are already getting GREAT deals is it really worth sacraficing your morals as well??? Not to mention if the cashiers know you to be one that tries to use them dishonestly they may give you an even harder time when your trying to use coupons combined with deals because they aren’t going to trust you! Please make it your own personal goal to abide by the coupon rules. Your actions are a reflection on all people who use coupons not just yourself.
Kim
Ok I use and love YNAB (You need a budget) budgeting software. Check it out. (Disclosure: I am only a happy user.)
Ponn Sabra
@Donnainohio I someone would ask me ;-) But, because it’s not as”pretty” as one would hope (it’s SO stuffed); and I’m not sure how good my pictures would be–I was procrastinating. But, I’ll try my best very soon, just for you ;-).
@Marcy I’ve heard wonderful stories like this about KMart. Unfortunately, they’ve been all bought out by WalMart here locally in Hamden, CT–so no KMarts here :-(
@laurie
1. Since we use online money mgmt system, QuickenOnline, we see how much we spend across categories. I search, per category, ie Groceries or Household. Groceries have dropped dramatically, and I add every penny I spend for groceries.
Now, my household expenses haven’t changed by $1-2/week b/c yes, now I’m getting namebrand Glade, etc. and cleaners with coupons instead of other generics, so the coupons “wash-out” any savings, but I’m blessed with a cleaner laundry. Name brands do make a difference. Also, I have a cleaner home with less work ;-)
Also, I didn’t add the $100s I saved in school supplies, b/c at CVS I spent $22 one week and saved over $92 in coupons and ECBs. I just put how much I spent–so my dollars saved in dramatically less than reported.
Please forgive my misrepresentation & incorrect advice noted to @Katie regarding doubling-up coupons!
@Katie, Nida Tara. Thank you profusely for the the rules & clarification. I know I did not purposefully added extra coupons to get a buck and sneak through a righteous system that I’m capitalizing enough on, as to abuse it. I honestly did not know that a printable coupon & a circular coupon could not be doubled-up on at Stop & Shop when I gave it to the cashier. I’m learning too, so as I started off, I said “‘ll try my best, what I know..and welcome” the experts’ opinion. Thank you for setting us all straight!
I know at Shop Rite, they have special coupons that they will allow their weeklies with manufacturers; so these coupons I always assure are deducted plus the double-coupon they automatically do.
@Chasidy Please read my replies above. Again, I’m a novice learning and stated it. I’m learning from all of you and graciously appreciate your open advice. I am not promoting practices that knew were bad; now that I know the limitations I am recommending the appropriate usage for myself and all beginner couponers.
@Kim Thanks for your recommendation. I’ll send the link to hubby–my tech-guy ;-)
imtra.com.my
My partner and I stumbled over here from a different website and thought I may as well check things
out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward
to going over your web page again.
world cup of hockey jerseys
“We simply have to find a way to remain good, very well mentioned Foligno. “Hopefully it provides united states an actual decent feeling in the winter, understand once we almost all take care of both in the cold weather, give back completely healthier, that we all could be a genuine dominant crew in this particular league. in
Toko Kue Ultah di Bandung
I must thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this blog.
I am hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts from you in the future as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged
me to get my very own website now ;)